Hoffenheim grabs a point at Wolfsburg to almost guarantee Bundesliga status
Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Hoffenheim's Pavel Kaderabek, center, celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind, middle celebrates scoring a goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind, middle celebrates scoring a goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Hoffenheim's Pavel Kaderabek, center, celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind, middle celebrates scoring a goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) — Interim Wolfsburg coach Daniel Bauer watched his new charges take the lead after just 18 seconds on Friday but Hoffenheim twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw and a point that almost guarantees its top-flight survival.
The result lifts Hoffenheim into 14th place in the 18-team Bundesliga with 32 points.
Advertisement
Heidenheim, which is third from bottom and currently occupying the relegation-playoff spot, has 26 points. It could draw level with Hoffenheim by winning its last two games — and Hoffenheim losing its final match — but Heidenheim has a worse goal difference.
St. Pauli is 15th with 31 points and Holstein Kiel 17th with 25 points. Both teams have two matches to play.
Last-placed Bochum is already relegated.
Very fast own-goal
Hoffenheim's point came despite going behind to an own-goal that was the fastest in Wolfsburg's Bundesliga history as Leo Østigård knocked Mohamed Amoura's cross-cum-shot into his own net.
Advertisement
It was the perfect start for Bauer, the 42-year-old reserve coach who replaced Ralph Hasenhüttl for the last two games of the season.
However, Pavel Kadeřábek equalized with a fine volley after 34 minutes and although both teams scored late on – Jonas Wind putting Wolfsburg ahead after 82 minutes and Marius Bülter equalizing three minutes later – the result stayed the same.
Wolfsburg is now winless in its last nine games and remains in 12th place with 40 points.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hamilton Spectator
43 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson earns Calder Trophy as NHL's rookie of the year
NEW YORK (AP) — Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson won the 2024-25 Calder Trophy on Tuesday as the NHL's rookie of the year. Hutson led rookies in scoring with six goals and 60 assists in his inaugural NHL season as the Canadiens made a surprise return to the playoffs this season. His 60 assists matched Larry Murphy (1980-81) for the most by a rookie defenseman, while his 66 points trailed only Murphy, Brian Leetch (1988-89) and Gary Suter (1985-86) for the most by a rookie blueliner. Hutson, selected 62nd overall by Montreal at the 2022 NHL draft, is the Canadiens' second Calder recipient in the expansion era after goaltender Ken Dryden (1971-72). The 21-year-old was surprised with the trophy at a dinner attended by more than 50 family and friends. Hutson was the first-place selection on 165 of the 191 ballots cast by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf was second in voting, followed by San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. ___ AP NHL:


San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Champions League winner PSG short-lists two sites outside Paris for future stadium
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain has short-listed two sites outside the capital city to build its future stadium. The Qatar Sports Investments-owned club wants its own stadium, but Paris city hall has so far refused to sell Parc des Princes, the 48,000-capacity venue that has served as PSG's home since 1972. 'Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League triumph marks a major milestone in the club's development,' PSG said in a statement Tuesday. 'In order to remain competitive at the highest level, to consolidate its business model over the long term and to welcome a greater number of supporters in the best possible conditions, the club must now acquire a stadium that matches its ambitions. This is an essential prerequisite if the club is to sustain its growth over the long term.' PSG said it will now focus on two sites — one in the town of Massy, just south of Paris near Orly airport; the other in Poissy, 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of the city. The club opened its new training center in Poissy last year. 'Further studies will be undertaken to assess more precisely the real feasibility of such a project on each of the two sites and to build an ambitious, responsible and meaningful project for the club, our supporters and the local authorities for the coming decades,' PSG said. 'At this stage, neither of the two sites is favored," it added. "The club will conduct both studies with the same seriousness, rigor and openness, in order to make the best possible decision.' PSG said it will keep playing at the Parc des Princes 'for several years' until the final project is delivered. PSG said last year it had invested more than 85 million euros ($92 million) in maintenance costs for the Parc des Princes, adding that it was committed to investing a further 500 million euros in renovations in order to compete with other clubs at the highest level in Europe. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said after PSG's Champions League victory that she would be open to refurbishment works to increase the stadium's capacity, although she remains opposed to a sale. ___

NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
NCAA says online abuse related to sports betting declined during this year's March Madness
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Online abuse related to sports betting decreased during the NCAA's March Madness basketball tournaments compared with the prior year, but people involved in the competition still received more than 3,000 threatening messages, the NCAA said Tuesday. The NCAA hired Signify Group to monitor messages directed at athletes, coaches, game officials, selection committee members and others with official roles in the tournament. Signify used both artificial intelligence and human analysts to confirm the threats and, when necessary, report them to law enforcement. Overall, abuse related to sports betting was down 23%, the NCAA said in a news release. The men's March Madness bracket was notable this year for the scarcity of upsets, with all four No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four and Florida, a popular pick to win it all, claiming the national title. On the women's side, three top seeds made the national semifinals and No. 2 seed UConn, among the pre-tournament favorites, won the championship. The NCAA's analysis found that overall, abusive statements directed at people involved in the men's tournament increased by 140% — much of it directed at the selection committee and coaches — while abuse related to sports betting was down 36%.